The unions representing elementary and high school teachers in Ontario's public system are planning to hold strike votes this fall.
The Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation told its members in a memo obtained by The Canadian Press that the government has shown ``little interest in engaging in substantive negotiations'' and little progress has been made.
The union says it will seek a strong strike mandate from members that it hopes will demonstrate unity and determination to achieve a fair agreement for teachers and students.
The president of the Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario told members in a speech today at their annual general meeting that after a year of trying to negotiate a new contract, ETFO's ``patience has run out.''
Karen Brown says the union has come to the bargaining table with proposals on special education, class sizes, violence in schools and wages that keep up with inflation.
She says in response the government has refused to meaningfully engage and has put forward proposals that are tantamount to cuts to salaries, benefits and working conditions.
Brown says ETFO will be holding meetings starting mid-September for central strike votes and that the union will be asking members for a strike mandate.